Nearly 200 people in Australia consumed cannabis that was contaminated because it had been grown alongside baby spinach. Consumption caused them to hallucinate and deal with other symptoms just days after Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) launched a nationwide recall of multiple products containing baby spinach that was causing illness among people.
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The plant material that caused delirium, hallucinations and blurred vision was identified as prickly apple, a type of nightshade, Bloomberg reported, adding that the herb was mistakenly harvested and processed along with the product.
Thornapple (Datura stramonium), also known as jimsonweed, can cause symptoms such as delirium or confusion, hallucinations, blurred vision, flushed face, dilated pupils, rapid heartbeat, and dry mouth and skin. Even touching the prickly apple plant can cause dermatitis, headaches and nausea in some people, the report added.
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Last week, more than 190 potential cases were reported in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Authorities anticipate more cases and several of them have been hospitalized.
However, most affected people only experience symptoms for a short time and recover quickly. According to The Guardian, the farm from which the contaminated baby spinach sprouted said “investigations have not identified any other potential chemicals, herbicides or other types of contaminants.”
